LĂ©a PeresPublished on 17 November 2025
• Sustained investment momentum. Over $160 million raised in a month for plant technologies, confirming the attractiveness of European agritech despite a tense economic context.
• The convergence of science and technology. From agricultural robotics to precision genetics, innovations are moving from the lab to the field, accelerating the transition to regenerative and low-carbon agriculture.
• A Europe redefining food sovereignty. Behind the deals lies a common ambition: to strengthen the resilience of plant production while reducing dependence on chemical inputs and climate variability.
Founded in 2014 in Yverdon-les-Bains by Steve Tanner and Aurélien Demaurex, Ecorobotix has established itself as the global leader in ultra-precise spraying. Its “plant-by-plant” technology, based on artificial intelligence and embedded vision, allows for a reduction of up to 95% in the use of plant protection products.
The company completed a $105 million funding round (Series D) in October led by Highland Europe, with participation from ECBF and McWin Capital Partners. This operation, one of the largest of the year in European agritech, brings the total funds raised since 2024 to $150 million.
Objective: to strengthen innovation capacity, diversify covered crops, and support pre-financing of production.
Trend: Ecorobotix embodies the maturity of the agricultural robotics segment, where artificial intelligence becomes a lever for both environmental and economic efficiency.
A spin-off from the University of Oxford founded in 2021 by Dr. Ross Hendron and Professor Steve Kelly, Wild Bioscience decodes the evolutionary mechanisms of wild plants to optimize cultivated varieties. Its artificial intelligence platform leverages millions of years of genetic evolution to identify the most effective adaptive traits.
The company raised $60 million (Series A) from the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), with participation from Oxford Science Enterprises, Braavos Capital, and the University of Oxford. The funds will be used to transform its initial lab successes into market-ready seeds, with the ambition to widely disseminate more resilient and productive varieties.
Trend: the convergence of AI and plant biology paves the way for precision breeding, where genetics becomes a tool for climate adaptation and food sovereignty.
Based in Wageningen, Ceradis was founded in 2005 by Wim van der Krieken. Specializing in sustainable crop protection and nutrition, the company develops patented biomineral technologies that reduce chemical pesticides without compromising yields.
In October, Ceradis was acquired by the American group Gowan, a historical player in crop protection, present in over 70 countries. The transaction amount has not been disclosed.
Objective: to strengthen Gowan's global presence in Europe and expand its R&D portfolio towards low environmental impact solutions.
Trend: the integration of Ceradis illustrates the rise of biosolutions and the willingness of large groups to capture innovation born from European ecosystems.
From ultra-targeted spraying to AI-assisted genetic selection, the plant value chain is digitizing. Europe is establishing itself as a privileged testing ground, supported by a dense network of deeptech startups and research centers. Investors are not mistaken: agricultural transition is no longer an option, but a strategic market where technology and ecology finally converge.
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